Installing CentOS 6.x as lean as possible with gnome desktop.
Also as a guest OS in a VirtualBox environment.
1. Install CentOS-6.x-x86_64-minimal
2. Install gcc and kernel-devel:
# yum -y install gcc.x86_64
# yum -y install kernel-devel.x86_64
3. Update installed packages and reboot to the new kernel:
# yum -y update
# reboot
4. Create a user:
# useradd username
# passwd username
5. GUI Desktop Installation, Gnome 2 desktop:
If installing as a VirtualBox Guest OS, desktop-platform is needed to build the VirtualBox Guest Additions modules.
# yum -y groupinstall desktop-platform basic-desktop x11 fonts
Reboot after GUI installation.
6. Text Mode Setup Utility:
Select “Authentication configuration” and “Run Tool“
Use the Keyboard TAB to move selection.
Hit “Next” and “Quit“
7. Login with the new user created in step 4 (username)
8. run the Gnome Desktop for the first time:
$ startx
For VirtualBox Guest, Install the VirtualBox Guest Additions:
Insert the VirtualBox GuestAddition CD using the VirtualBox Mini ToolBar. From the VirtualBox Mini ToolBar Menu, Device -> “Install Guest Additions…”
When the dialog box appear, click on OK to run “Open Autorun Prompt”, it will prompt you for the root password.
Or Open a Terminal and run autorun.sh
# /media/VBOXADDITIONS_5.xx/autorun.sh
9. Configure GNOME to start boot.
# vi /etc/inittab
Change runlevel 3 (Full multiuser mode) to 5 (X11)
Change id:3:initdefault to id:5:initdefault
10. Reboot and login to the Desktop.
For VirtualBox Gurest, You should have full mouse integration.
Install additional packages:
# yum -y groupinstall “Graphical Administration Tools”
If you want to install kde:
# yum -y groupinstall kde-desktop
To add Printers support, install system-config-printer.x86_64:
# yum -y install system-config-printer.x86_64
Install gnome utilities to add gnome-screenshot:
# yum -y install gnome-utils.x86_64